For the first half of the night, Lu Mingzhe was highly alert. Coupled with the extreme cuteness of the daughter photos Xiang Wan had sent him, he had no sleepiness.
He kept his eyes open until past four in the morning before succumbing to physical exhaustion, dozing off by the bedside.
Shortly after he fell asleep, his grandmother on the bed woke up.
She needed to use the restroom, but her body wouldn't cooperate. She couldn't move.
She wanted to call Xiang Wan for help, but when she opened her mouth, her face and lips felt numb, and no sound came out.
She was terrified.
She didn't know what was happening to her. Her vision was a blur of white. What had happened? Where was Niannian?
As she tensed up and shivered, Grandma felt a damp warmth on the bed.
She, who was nearly eighty and had maintained her cleanliness for most of her life, had wet the bed.
"Mmm, mmm..."
Embarrassed and flustered, Grandma finally made a sound.
Lu Mingzhe jolted awake in an instant and looked towards her.
Seeing her eyes open, he quickly stood up and leaned in.
"Grandma. You're awake?"
Grandma's face was pale, her upper and lower lips pulled in opposite directions.
Whether it was because of pain that prevented her mouth from closing, or as the doctor had said, a severe sequela,
her appearance was unsettling.
But all he felt was heartache.
"Are you feeling unwell anywhere? I'll call the doctor."
He reached for the bedside bell, but Grandma urgently increased her vocalizations, "Mmm! Mmm mmm!"
Lu Mingzhe paused, then looked down at her.
"What is it? You don't want me to call the doctor? Alright, alright, I won't."
"Why the rush? Look, you're sweating on your forehead."
"Tell me what you want to say. Don't get worked up."
How could Grandma not be agitated?
She hadn't seen Lu Mingzhe for over a year. Xiang Wan had said they had broken up.
During Xiang Wan's most difficult times, she had repeatedly hoped for his appearance, but he had never shown up. Why had he suddenly appeared today?
Was this a dream or reality? Why couldn't she move?
At her age, being clumsy enough to wet the bed and then being seen by him, how could she not be excited?
"Mmm, mmm mmm mmm..."
Grandma desperately tried to raise her arm to have Lu Mingzhe help her sit up, but she couldn't lift it at all.
Lu Mingzhe understood. He reached behind her head to support her.
"You're tired of lying down, aren't you? Do you want to sit up? I'll help you."
The warmth of Lu Mingzhe's hand on her confirmed it wasn't a dream.
Then something must have really happened.
Niannian had been ill recently, not sleeping well day or night.
She worried about Xiang Wan and insisted on taking care of the child, not having slept well for several days.
Sometimes she felt dizzy, with chest tightness and shortness of breath. Could it be...
After Lu Mingzhe helped her up slightly, he realized Grandma's condition was serious.
Not only was her mouth crooked, but her entire body was immobile.
When he tried to support her, she had no self-control whatsoever.
Fearing he might scare Grandma, he gently lowered her back down.
"It's best if you lie down and don't move for now. Tell me what you need, and I'll help you. The doctor said you need to rest well."
He sat back down and took one of her hands in his.
"You fainted yesterday, Grandma. You really scared Xiang Wan."
Grandma seemed to recall something, remembering how she had almost fallen on Niannian. Her face showed deep self-reproach.
Lu Mingzhe gently comforted her.
"Don't worry too much. The doctor said it's nothing serious, a common illness for people your age. A little rest should do the trick."
"Who doesn't get sick eating grains? It's not like you did it on purpose, and Xiang Wan doesn't blame you at all."
"You're already doing great, helping with the child every day. Don't push yourself too hard."
"Is the room temperature alright? Do you feel hot or cold? Would you like some water? I'll get it for you."
Grandma's eyes followed Lu Mingzhe's movements.
She found that this young man was no different from before, still quite likable.
Even though she had resented him before meeting him, and felt Xiang Wan was wronged, she hadn't expected that after such a short time, a few words would make her want to forgive him.
She had a belly full of questions for Lu Mingzhe, but her body was failing her.
Never mind. Xiang Wan wasn't a child anymore; she could handle her own affairs. She would worry about it later.
She shook her head.
"Are you tired again? It's still early, perhaps you should sleep a little more. Xiang Wan will bring Niannian to see you when it's light."
Lu Mingzhe tucked her hand back under the covers and pulled the blanket up around her legs.
The moment he touched her, Grandma let out another muffled cry as if she had been pricked by a needle.
But it was too late; Lu Mingzhe had already sensed the dampness.
No wonder Grandma had looked so uncomfortable the moment she opened her eyes. It turned out...
If she could never recover and had to be bedridden forever, needing someone to help her with her daily needs...
It was too difficult to bear.
It was all his fault.
If he had found Xiang Wan sooner, Grandma wouldn't have had to work so hard, and perhaps she wouldn't have fallen ill.
He pretended not to notice, smiled at Grandma, told her to rest well, and turned to leave the ward.
Soon, two nurses entered with a set of hospital clothes to help Grandma change.
"Ma'am, is that your grandson-in-law outside? He's so handsome and has such a good temper."
"When we were handling the paperwork this morning, I saw him holding the child and running around, looking so fond of the child. He's truly charming."
"You have such discerning taste, picking such a good son-in-law. Hurry up and get well, our department has many single girls. Introduce them to us when the time comes."
Grandma drifted back to sleep in a haze of mixed emotions.
At seven in the morning, Xiang Wan arrived at the ward, carrying her daughter and a bag of breakfast.
Ever since Grandma had wet the bed, Lu Mingzhe had lost all sense of sleepiness. He had woken up a friend in the middle of the night, asking for information about hospitals in Hangcheng.
They talked for a long time, and Lu Mingzhe, using some connections, made arrangements at a specialized hospital.
When Xiang Wan arrived, he was on the phone with his back to the door.
Despite the ward being dilapidated and ordinary, his tall stature and elite demeanor somehow lent it an air of business.
Xiang Wan first checked on Grandma in bed. Her clothes had been changed, so she must have woken up in the meantime.
Sighing with relief, she put down the breakfast and waited for Lu Mingzhe to turn around.
She didn't want to disturb him on the phone, but Niannian couldn't help it.
Seeing his back, she excitedly wriggled in Xiang Wan's arms.
Her little legs kicked energetically, and she cried out impatiently, "Daddy, Daddy!"
Lu Mingzhe heard his daughter's voice and turned around. He saw her and Xiang Wan, both clean, standing there looking at him.
In the early morning, warm sunlight illuminated their faces, making them look so pure and heartwarming.
It was a scene he had dreamed of.
He couldn't help but smile.
"I'll hang up for now. Call me back when you're done. Thank you for your trouble."
He walked over.
Niannian became even more excited, waving her little hands and leaning forward with all her might, "Daddy, Daddy!"
Lu Mingzhe took her from Xiang Wan and kissed her on the face.